Tag: Osinbajo

The Federal Government has promised to make loans available to local manufacturers at single digit interest rates to help facilitate economic recovery and boost the country’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, spoke at the weekend when he inaugurated the Meter Box and other Plastics Factory of Mojec International Limited, an indigenous meter manufacturer.

Osinbajo noted that the government would work out modalities on how to make funds available at a very low rate, adding that the rate would not be more than single digit in order to stimulate production.

He stated that once this is done, job creation would be catalysed, which would invariably augment solution to the alarming unemployment ravaging the country.

The Acting President identified corruption as one of the biggest endemic problems in Nigeria, stressing that corruption at all levels has kept the country’s growth and development below expectation.

He said: “We have been able to stop bank corruption, which has been taking money from the treasury for projects without executing the projects that it was meant for.”

He also noted that one of the country’s major problems is attitude, saying that it is important that change of attitude is inculcated by every business operator as well as all Nigerians.

Commending the giant stride of Mojec International, Osinbajo said: “We are ready to partner and fund the private sectors that are performing and doing the right thing. One of the things we are now taking seriously is enforcement, which is to make sure that things are done in the right manner.”

The Managing Director of Moject International Limited, Ms. Chantelle Abdul, stated that the company’s drive is to build the Nigeria of her dream by taking it to the league of nations known for manufacturing and job creation.

She called on the government to reverse the law permitting manufacturers of meter to import 70 per cent of its input as 30 per cent local content inclusion would not help grow the industry.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

This followed complaints and reports on the activities of SARS, which bordered on allegations of human rights violations.

There have been outcries on alleged infractions and atrocities by SARS operatives, such that Nigerians on social media began a campaign, #ENDSARS, to scrap the unit.

Despite the outcries, the police maintained that SARS was living up to its responsibilities, a few bad eggs notwithstanding.

At a meeting between the police and #ENDSARS campaigners on Sunday, the service urged Nigerians to embrace SARS reform, listing the dangers associated with scrapping the unit.

With Osinbajo’s directive, any unit that would emerge from the overhaul must be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of robbery and kidnapping, as well as arrest of offenders linked to the offences.

The Acting President said the new unit that would emerge should not venture into any other assignment.

These were contained in a statement by Osinbajo’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

The Acting President also directed the IGP to ensure that operatives in the unit conduct their operations in adherence to the rule of law and with regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of suspects.

The operatives, he said, should bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.

Osinbajo directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a special panel that would conduct investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS, in order to afford the public the opportunity to present their grievances, with a view to ensuring redress.

•As Bishop hails Ugwuanyi, says there is no vacancy in Enugu

THE Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has called on Nigerian youths to rise up to the challenges of leadership.

He made the call yesterday in Enugu, when he attended the 30th National Biennial Conference of the Student Christian Movement (SCM).

Describing youths as “the most vibrant segment of the population, Osinbajo said Nigerian youths should consider themselves as the leaders of today, not of the future as generally assumed, pointing out that “60 percent of our population is made up of young people.”

In his speech at the event, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, however declared that there is no vacancy in Enugu State Government House.

He said the people of Enugu State are at home and happy with the good works and uncommon leadership style of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who he described as “a non-discriminating” politician.

Speaking during the 30th National Biennial Conference of the Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria, held in Enugu, which had in attendance the Acting President and Gov. Ugwuanyi, among other dignitaries, Archbishop Chukwuma appreciated the governor “for his support and concern for the people of Enugu State, especially these children”.

He said: “Mr. Acting President, Enugu State is in the hands of God. Ugwuanyi is not a governor that discriminates against anybody and so no vacancy in Enugu Government House because Enugu State is in the hands of God.”

The cleric added that Ugwuanyi’s cordial relationship with leaders of other political parties was because he always “gives respect to whom respect is due”, stressing that “Enugu State Governor respects elders”.

He expressed gratitude to God for the successful hosting of the conference in Enugu, with the theme: “A Highway of Holiness” and applauded Osinbajo for his presence to address the youths on morality and values, despite his tight schedule.

According to him, the Acting President’s presence at the event was because of his passion and love for the Student Christian Movement (SCM), an organisation, which he said was established for the spiritual development of the youth, aimed at securing their future as better citizens.

Earlier in his address, the National President of the Association, Rev. Eric Ighalo, who thanked Osinbajo, Ugwuanyi and Archbishop Chukwuma, for their support and active participation in the event, noted that it was a historic outing “for the Nigerian youth and for Nigerian Christian students in particular”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, while welcoming the Acting President and other dignitaries to the state, thanked the national executive of the SCMN for the honour in holding “this historic conference in Enugu.”

The governor lauded the association “for the remarkable progress it has continued to make in the prosecution of its mission of working for the acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ by youths, especially those in our educational institutions.”

The governor further commended the body for its role in “seeking to enthrone righteous leadership both in the Church and in the society by exposing the youth to the influence of the power of God through purposeful leadership training and discipleship”.